Systems for displaying accessories on a garment hanger

ABSTRACT

A garment hanger for displaying a garment and an accessory item, such as a cap, contemplated for wearing with the garment is provided. The hanger includes an attachment member adapted to engage a support structure from which the attachment member may hang. A display member having opposing ends is affixed to the attachment member at a position between the opposing ends, and on which a garment may be placed. A retention member may be extended upwardly from the display member at a location which permits exposure of the retention member when a garment is on the display member, so that an accessory item may engage the retention member. A method for displaying a garment and an accessory item on a hanger is also provided.

RELATED U.S. APPLICATION(S)

[0001] This application claim priority to Provisional Application Serial No. 60/351,041, filed Jan. 23, 2002, which application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates generally to garment hangers, and more particularly, to hangers for displaying accessories together with the hanging garment.

BACKGROUND ART

[0003] Hangers have long been available for retaining and/or displaying garments. Typically, a hanger includes an attachment member, such as a hook adapted to engage over a support bar or a ball adapted for securing within an associated socket suspended from a support bar. The hanger may also include a garment display member, affixed to the attachment member, for retaining the garment thereon.

[0004] Clothing manufacturers have used hangers to display, along with the garment, accessories designed to be worn with the garment. Consumers similarly have used hangers within their homes to conveniently coordinate accessories with the hanging garment. The retention of the accessories and the garment on the same hanger, however, has been an issue. Specifically, since most hangers are designed for retaining the garment being displayed, these hangers do not provide a place onto which the accessories can be securely retained. As such, the accessories being displayed often get displaced from the hanger.

[0005] To prevent such a displacement, clothing manufacturers, in certain instances, have secured the accessories directly to the garment being displayed with a thin plastic tie, which pierces both the garment and the accessories. The plastic tie must subsequently be cut, broken or destroyed to remove the accessories from the garment.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,064 provides a hanger for garments and accessories using a tie similar to the thin plastic tie mentioned above. The hanger of the '064 patent is designed to include an aperture through which one end of the tie is positioned. A transverse filament is provided at the end of the tie to retain the end across the aperture. Another transverse filament is provided at an opposite end of the tie to retain the accessory being displayed. The design of the tie, however, requires that the integrity of the garment be compromised, i.e., that a hole be provided in the accessory item to permit the tie and filament to extend therethrough for retention of the accessory item.

[0007] Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a hanger from which both the hanging garment and the associated accessory can be securely displayed, which permits the accessory to be displayed without damaging the accessory or compromising its integrity, and which allows the accessory to be redisplayed after removal from the hanger.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention, in accordance with one embodiment, provides a garment hanger for displaying a garment and an accessory item, for example, a cap or visor. The garment hanger, as provided, can include an attachment member that is adapted to engage a support structure, for instance, a horizontal bar, from which the attachment member may hang. The hanger may also include a display member having opposing ends for displaying a garment. The display member, in an embodiment, may be affixed to the attachment member at a position between the opposing ends. The hanger may further include a retention member extending from the display member for retaining an accessory item. The retention member, in an embodiment, may be positioned at a location which permits exposure of the retention member when a garment is on the display member. In this manner, the retention member may be made available for the accessory item to engage therewith. In one embodiment of the invention, the hanger further includes a strap for engaging the retention member and a clip coupled to a free end of the strap for securing the accessory item thereto.

[0009] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method for displaying a garment and an accessory item on a hanger is provided. The method includes providing a hanger having an attachment member that is adapted to engage a support structure from which the attachment member may hang, and a display member having opposing ends. The display member, designed to display a garment, may be affixed to the attachment member at a position between the opposing ends. Next, a retention member may be provided on the display member at a location which permits exposure of the retention member when a garment is on the display member. Thereafter, a garment may be positioned on the garment display member, and the accessory item to be worn with the garment may be coupled to the retention member.

[0010] A kit is also provided for use with a garment hanger to display an accessory item contemplated for wearing with the garment being displayed. The kit includes an accessory retention member for placement on to a hanger having a garment display member. The kit also includes coupling means for securing the retention member to the display member at a location which permits exposure of the retention member when a garment is on the display member. In one embodiment, the kit further includes a strap for engaging the retention member and a clip coupled to the strap for securing the accessory item thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 illustrates side view of a hanger in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 2 illustrates the hanger shown in FIG. 1 with a cap shown in dotted lines engaging a retention member on the hanger.

[0013]FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the retention member shown in FIGS. 1-2.

[0014]FIG. 4 illustrates a manner in which the retention member shown in FIG. 3 may be used to display a cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

[0015] The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a garment hanger for displaying, on the same hanger, a garment and an accessory item that has been coordinated with the garment and contemplated for wearing together with the garment. The accessory item being displayed on the garment hanger of the present invention may either be a cap or a visor.

[0016] In FIG. 1, there is shown a hanger 10 having an attachment member 11, for instance, a hook, for engaging a support structure (not shown), such as a horizontal bar in a closet, a clothes rack or other similar structures upon which a hanger hook may engage. Alternatively, the attachment member may include a ball shape tip designed to engage an associated socket is coupled to a horizontal bar. The hanger 10 also includes a display member 12 having opposing ends 13 and 14, and may be affixed to the attachment member 11 at a location between the opposing ends 13 and 14. In this manner, the display member 12 provides a platform over which a garment may be hung. Although shown in FIG. 1 as being arcuate in shape, the display member 12 may be straight or be provided with any other shape, so long as the display member 12 permits a garment to be hung therefrom. The garment display member 12, in an embodiment, may include an elongated rod 15 extending from one end 13 of the display member 12 to the opposing end 14. The rod 15 may be used to hang, for instance, a pair of pants therefrom.

[0017] As the hanger 10 is designed to display garments, the material from which the attachment member 11 and the display member 12 may be made includes wood, plastic, metal or any other material which would be sufficiently strong to support a garment. Similarly, rod 15 may be made from the material from which the display member 12 is made. Rod 15 may also be made from a material different from that of display member 12.

[0018] Still referring to FIG. 1, the hanger 10 further includes a retention member 16 for retaining an accessory item thereon. In one embodiment of the invention, the retention member 16 extends upwardly from the display member 12 at a location which permits exposure of the retention member 16 when a garment is hanging on the display member 12. In this manner, the retention member 16 may be made available for retaining an accessory item, so that the item may be displayed on the hanger 10. In addition, the location at which the retention member 16 may be positioned can be at a sufficient distance from, for instance, the end 14 of the display member 12 to permit the accessory item to engage the one end 14, while simultaneously engaging the retention member 16. Such a design may be desirable in the instance wherein, for example, a cap 20 (shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2) is being displayed along with the garment. The ability to engage the one end 14 and the retention member 16 simultaneously can provide, for example, the cap 20 with a snug fit as it spans from the one end 14 to the retention member 16, so as to assist in holding the cap 20 in an appropriate position on the display member 12, while minimizing dislodgement of the cap 20 from the retention member 16.

[0019] As the retention member 16 is used to retain accessory items, it necessarily needs to be sufficiently strong. In one embodiment, the retention member 16 can be a dowel, a peg or a pin, made from any sufficiently strong material, for instance, wood, plastic, metal, or a combination of any of these. The retention member 16 may also be a screw, a nail or any extension capable of retaining an accessory item.

[0020] Referring now to FIG. 3, the retention member 16, in one embodiment, may be provided with a strap 30 having one of its ends coupled to the retention member 16. The strap 16 may also include a clip 31 attached to a free end opposite the end coupled to the retention member 16 so that an accessory item, such as cap 20, may be secured thereto. Attachment of the strap 30 to the retention member 16 may be by any conventional means, so long as the strap 30 remains securely coupled to the retention member 16. Alternatively, the strap 30 may be looped over the retention member 16, so as to permit removal of the strap 30 therefrom, should the strap 30 not be needed for displaying the accessory item. The strap 30 may be made from any flexible material, including, leather, cloth/fabric, plastic or any chord-like material. If desired, the strap 30 may also be made from an elastic material to provide the strap 30 with additional play for its placement along the display member 12.

[0021] Clip 31, provided at the free end of the strap 30, can be used to enhance the engagement of an accessory item to the retention member 16. As shown in FIG. 3, when the accessory item, e.g., cap 20, is placed over the retention member 16, clip 31 may be attached to the accessory item to minimize displacement of the accessory item from the retention member 16. It should be appreciated that with such a design, strap 30 and clip 31 may also be used to permit the accessory item to loosely hang from the retention member 16, as illustrated in FIG. 4, should such a position be desired, or be placed in any other position along the hanger 10.

[0022] To display an accessory item on the hanger 10 along with a garment, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the hanger 10 may initially be supported from the attachment member 11 on, for instance, a horizontal beam. Alternatively, the hanger 10 may be held in the hand of a person. Next, a garment may be draped over the display member 12 leaving the retention member 16 exposed, so that an accessory item may be secured to the retention member 16. Thereafter, an accessory item, such a cap 20, shown in FIG. 2 may be placed on to the retention member 16 for display on the hanger 10 along with the garment. By providing permitting an accessory item to be displayed with a garment on the hanger 10, a person will be able to coordinate the color schemes between the accessory item and garment and display the accessory item and garment to their best advantage. In addition, an accessory item and garment which may bear substantially similar or complementary ornamentation or trim may be displayed.

[0023] The present invention also contemplates providing a kit for use with a garment hanger to display an accessory item to be worn with the garment being displayed. The kit includes a retention member, i.e., dowel, peg, pin etc., similar to retention member 16, shown in FIG. 1. The kit also includes coupling means for securing the retention member 16 to the display member 12. Coupling means may include an adhesive, a nail or a screw, which can be used secure the retention member 16 to the display member 12. The kits can also include a set of instructions for securing the retention member 16 to the display member 12. In one embodiment of the invention, the kit may further include a strap, similar to strap 30, illustrated in FIG. 3, for engaging the retention member 16, and a clip 31 coupled to a free end of the strap 30 for engaging and securing an accessory item.

[0024] While the invention has been described in connection with the specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification. For example, although reference has been made to dowel, peg or pin, the retention mechanism 16 include a slot in the display member 12 for retaining, for instance a head strap of a cap. In addition, a bungee-cord like band with one end hooked around the attachment mechanism 11 and an opposite end that can be hooked onto the back of a cap may be employed instead of a peg and/or a strap-and-clip without straying outside the scope of the present invention. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention, including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as fall within the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hanger for displaying a garment and an accessory item, the hanger comprising: an attachment member adapted to engage a support structure from which the attachment member may hang; a display member for displaying a garment, the display member having opposing ends and being affixed to the attachment member at a position between the opposing ends; and a retention member from which an accessory item may engage, the retention member extending from the display member at a location which permits exposure of the retention member when a garment is being retained on the display member.
 2. A hanger as set forth in claim 1, wherein the retention member includes an upward extension from which the accessory item may hang.
 3. A hanger as set forth in claim 1, wherein the retention member is further positioned at a location on the display member which permits the accessory item to engage one end of the display member while engaging the retention member.
 4. A hanger as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: a strap for engaging the extension; and a clip coupled to the strap for securing the accessory item thereto.
 5. A hanger as set forth in claim 1, wherein the strap is securely attached to the extension.
 6. A hanger as set forth in claim 1, wherein the strap removably coupled to the extension.
 7. A method for displaying a garment and an accessory item on a hanger, the method comprising: providing a hanger having an attachment member adapted to engage a support structure from which the attachment member may hang, and a garment display member having opposing ends, the display member being affixed to the attachment member at a position between the opposing ends; securing a retention member to the display member at a location which permits exposure of the retention member when a garment is being retained on the display member; positioning a garment on to the garment display member; and placing an accessory item on to the retention member.
 8. A method as set forth in claim 7 further comprising: positioning the accessory item over one end of the display member, so that the accessory item spans from the retention member to the one end of the display member.
 9. A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the step of securing includes coupling a strap having a clip attached thereto to the retention member; and clipping the accessory item to the clip.
 10. A method as set forth in claim 9 further comprising: positioning the accessory item over one end of the display member, so that the accessory item spans from the retention member to the one end of the display member.
 11. A kit comprising: an accessory retention member for use with a hanger having a garment display member; and coupling means for securing the retention member to the display member at a location which permits exposure of the retention member when a garment is being retained on the display member
 12. A kit as set forth in claim 11 further comprising: a strap for engaging the accessory retention member; and a clip coupled to the strap for securing the accessory item thereto. 